Caterham to launch new range-topping EUV-compliant Seven

Caterham has announced a new engine for its Seven sportscar, based on the existing EUV-compliant Duratec units, but sitting above the 175bhp 2.0-litre Superlight R300 in the range.

The new powerplant is being re-developed for EUV type approval by the Caterham Group’s engineering and design consultancy, Caterham Technology & Innovation (CTI) and is currently on display at the Retromobile show in Paris.

Production of the new cars will start once EU noise and emissions regulations are met, with first deliveries anticipated by Summer. There is no word yet on the engine’s power output or efficiency – it has yet to undergo any meaningful performance testing – but clearly Caterham Group would like to show what CTI are capable of and what can be achieved when its companies work together.

Caterham Cars’ CEO, Graham Macdonald, said: “We’ve long wished to bring our pan-European Seven offering in line with the more powerful cars available in the UK. With the addition to the Caterham family of CTI, we now have additional in-house capability to design and develop products that can do that.

“The new car will be a real boost for all our customers across Europe who like what they see in the R300 but hanker after even more performance. Our motorsport activities in France and Germany, particularly, remain extremely strong so we know that appetite is out there and, for what will be a very competitive price tag, I expect the order book to fill up fast.”

Because homologation requirements differ between UK and Europe, the engines on offer will continue to develop along slightly different paths, but with overseas markets accounting for around 55% of Seven sales, one of CTI’s jobs is to help Caterham standardise more of its product offerings.

Caterham’s new Seven variant is yet to receive a name, but with its launch scheduled for Spring, we may hear something more by next month’s Geneva Motor Show.